On Tuesday, March 17, 2015, at approximately 6:15 pm, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to Shearwater Drive in LaPlace for the report of the suspicious behavior of a group of juveniles. Responding deputies saw a group of juveniles matching the description of juveniles that the complainant provided. Deputies spoke with the juveniles who told deputies where they lived. Having no reported criminal activity in the area, deputies allowed all the juveniles to go on their way.

At 6:53 pm, the complainant called back stating that a residence appeared to have been burglarized. The complainant told deputies that he saw juveniles go to the rear of a residence while other juveniles stood by the front door. Moments later, all the juveniles walked from the residence with a box and backpack. The deputy found a rear window of the residence broken. A concrete paver was thrown through the glass. The homeowner reported electronic equipment and a piece of jewelry stolen from the residence.

At 6:54 pm, deputies responded to Ibis Court for the report of an attempted burglary. When the homeowner arrived home, he found a glass panel on the backdoor broken. A brick was thrown through the glass. Entry was not made in the residence.

Investigators located three of the juveniles who deputies had spoken to earlier. The three juveniles along with their parents met with detectives at the Criminal Investigations Division. The juveniles confessed to their involvements in the burglary and attempted burglary. Detectives arrested a 15-year-old and a 13-year-old, and booked them with simple burglary, simple criminal damage to property, and attempted simple burglary. Detectives arrested another 15-year-old in connection to the burglary and booked him with principal to simple burglary. The three juveniles were released to the custody of their parents.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information regarding this incident is encouraged to call the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office TIPS line at 985-359-TIPS or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111. Citizens with information about this incident that call Crimestoppers do not have to testify in court and may qualify for a cash reward. Citizens can also submit tips on the Sheriff’s Office website at http://stjohnsheriff.org/submitatip.php.